Chapter 37: The Fourth Kiss

“Junior Sister Wenxin, you made me wait so painfully…” Long Qing’er’s tone was very sorrowful, even carrying a hint of murderous intent. Ye Wenxin panicked and tried to escape, but a surge of Qi had already struck the door faster, locking Ye Wenxin inside the room.

“Ah, Senior Sister Qing’er, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have stood you up!”

Ye Wenxin was truly terrified. Even though her cultivation was higher than Long Qing’er’s and she had killed more people, that imposing aura made her unable to resist.

No matter in which world, something scarier than great power was being in the wrong.

Because she wanted to avoid trouble, she immersed herself in alchemy in the backwoods. She thought that after coming back, the two of them would have cooled their heads, but she underestimated how vengeful these two people she knew could be.

“Junior Sister Wenxin, do you know why there are rumors outside that I’m very cruel?” Long Qing’er’s face wore an extremely radiant smile, but her eyes harbored genuine killing intent.

“I… I don’t know.”

Ye Wenxin swallowed hard, though she actually knew very well. Long Qing’er’s nature was indeed extremely cruel. Previously, a senior brother flirted with Long Qing’er, not knowing who she was. As a result, Long Qing’er chopped off the disciple’s third leg¹ and sent him back home.

That family had considerable influence and wanted to seek justice against Long Qing’er. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Long Qing’er single-handedly slaughtered the entire family.

But Ye Wenxin did not dare to say it. She was afraid that if she did, she would die even worse tonight.

“As for me, I hate men. As long as there’s one I dislike, I’ll definitely cripple his third leg.”

Ye Wenxin forced a strained smile, feeling that Long Qing’er was implying something about Ling Jue. Yet upon careful thought, even if Ling Jue could perform the Yin-Yang Transformation Technique, she did not have a third leg, so she was not concerned about Long Qing’er posing any threat to her.

“I see, Senior Sister Long dislikes men.”

Seeing Ye Wenxin’s somewhat flat response, Long Qing’er felt a bit bored.

“Yeah, find it strange?” Long Qing’er asked again, never caring about others’ opinions of her but still seeking some validation.

“Not really. As long as it doesn’t happen to me, whether it’s between a man and a woman, two women, or two men, I don’t really care.” Survival instinct immediately kicking in, Ye Wenxin considered for a few seconds, and gave a diplomatic answer.

Seeing the panic in Ye Wenxin’s eyes, Long Qing’er chuckled softly, the murderous intent starting to dissipate. She continued, “Little Sister, you truly are broad-minded. But don’t be so scared. Although I’m good to you because I like you, I have no intention of becoming your Dao companion.²“

But Ye Wenxin wore a look as if she had long known, “I know, you like Fairy Fengya.”

The reason she did not refuse to interact with Long Qing’er was twofold. On one hand, Long Qing’er was her best friend’s niece. If Long Qing’er encountered any difficulties in the future, no matter what happened, Ye Wenxin would always ensure Long Qing’er’s well-being.

On the other hand, it was precisely because Long Qing’er loved Fairy Fengya, she was one of the most qualified among all the people she had seen to pursue Fairy Fengya’s whereabouts from.

If Long Qing’er could truly become Fairy Fengya’s true disciple in the future, Ye Wenxin, in order to get close to and kill Fairy Fengya, would naturally make good use of Long Qing’er.

“So, Little Sister Wenxin knew all along.” Hearing Ye Wenxin directly mention the name of the person she loved, Long Qing’er unexpectedly gave a shy smile.

“Well, everyone in the Azure Wings Sect does.”

Ye Wenxin felt somewhat amused and exasperated. However, seeing that Long Qing’er’s mood seemed to be gradually improving, and that she probably would not face any other dangers, she felt a bit more relieved, although still quite cautious.

Observing Ye Wenxin’s lingering apprehension, Long Qing’er’s eyes softened as she gestured towards Ye Wenxin not far away and spoke in a gentle tone, “Wenxin, I’m not angry anymore. Come sit beside me, and let’s have some girl talk.”

Ye Wenxin did not really want to engage in such conversation, but it seemed that Ling Jue outside still showed no sign of rescuing her. She was still playing the role of the weaker party, so she reluctantly walked over.

As Ye Wenxin took a seat, Long Qing’er promptly conjured up a table, which she adorned with various fruits and snacks.

“Dig in,” she gestured towards the spread on the table, her eyes filled with indulgence towards Ye Wenxin. Ye Wenxin did not hesitate and casually picked up a spirit fruit to eat.

Over the course of the night, Long Qing’er did all the talking, while Ye Wenxin could only respond with vague acknowledgments. It was not until dawn broke that she realized just how much Long Qing’er could talk.

What was terrifying was that everything Long Qing’er talked about was related to Fairy Fengya. Long Qing’er left in the morning feeling refreshed, intending to catch up on sleep, but Ye Wenxin, due to Long Qing’er’s words, ended up dreaming about Fairy Fengya.

In the dream, she could not clearly see the face, but a hand was caressing Ye Wenxin’s cheek. They were so close, and although Ye Wenxin struggled and felt fear, she found herself unable to resist as their lips drew near. Finally, Ye Wenxin woke up from the nightmare.

“Ah!” She screamed and swatted away the hand that had been touching her face, only to see Ling Jue’s slightly startled face.

“Nightmare?” Ling Jue asked after a few seconds, initially concerned for Ye Wenxin but surprised to find her lying quietly at home all morning.

“Yeah, Senior Sister Long is too scary. She talked to me about Fairy Fengya all night long, and then I…” Ye Wenxin gritted her teeth with hatred. They said thoughts by day, dreams by night. That was why she had such a dream completely opposite to reality.

“Well, aren’t you happy too? After all, you really like Fairy Fengya.” Ling Jue’s voice lowered slightly, sounding a bit displeased.

“Uh, I had a nightmare, okay? I dreamt of a pig gnawing on Fairy Fengya.” Ye Wenxin naturally did not forget to smear Fairy Fengya’s name, but suddenly remembered the situation in the dream, so it seemed like she was cursing herself as that stupid pig.

“Pfft… I see. Come on, get up and get ready.”

“Ready for what?” Ye Wenxin felt a bit strange. The recruitment event was not until tomorrow, so logically there was no need to rush.

“I’ll take you to the meeting place first, so you can meet the others.” Ling Jue began helping Ye Wenxin straighten out her twisted collar.

“Meet, oh right, how could I forget about that.” Ye Wenxin immediately got up upon hearing this and began changing her clothes, completely unconcerned about Ling Jue’s presence.

Ling Jue’s face reddened slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with Ye Wenxin’s disregard for certain details.

“You, as a girl, you shouldn’t be so candid…”

“It’s fine, I have what you have, and what you don’t have, I don’t have. I’m done changing.” Ye Wenxin remained unfazed, already dressed neatly, even donning a black garment.

With her black clothing and hair, her youthful face now carried a hint of maturity that did not quite match her age.

“Such behavior isn’t appropriate in front of anyone, even between women.” Ling Jue sighed, continuing to help Ye Wenxin tidy up her clothes and hair.

Ye Wenxin did not refuse, as she had long been accustomed to being attended to, but this was her first time being served like this after running away.

“I didn’t realize Little Sister Wenxin was from a wealthy family before. You seem so practiced at being attended to.” From just this one subtle gesture, Ling Jue already figured out some information about Ye Wenxin’s background.

Ye Wenxin’s body stiffened slightly, feeling somewhat awkward. “Um, my family was well-off in the past, but later…” She attempted to fabricate a dog-blooded³ story, but Ling Jue gently placed a finger on her lips.

“I’m not interested in knowing. Everyone has their own difficulties, and I don’t care about your past. As long as Little Sister Wenxin treats me sincerely, I will do my best to help,” Ling Jue expressed with tender eyes, and it was unclear whether it was her inherent gentleness or just because Ye Wenxin was special to her.

Ye Wenxin’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Thank you,” she could only say, unable to express more.

Such a kind-hearted girl, if Ling Jue ever encountered difficulties in the future, Ye Wenxin would definitely lend a hand.

“Don’t be so formal with me, I’m not used to it… Here, I’ve prepared some weapons for you. In the upcoming recruitment assembly, you still have a long way to go.” Ling Jue smiled as she took out a dagger and a special breastplate, along with several bottles of what appeared to be third-grade pills, intending to give them to Ye Wenxin.

“You’re still too small for a longsword, so I chose a dagger for you. These pills can help you through some difficulties. I won’t be by your side for the next few days, so take good care of yourself,” Ling Jue explained again, while Ye Wenxin could only nod.

Ling Jue was truly good to her, but this kindness made Ye Wenxin even more anxious about how to repay it.

Seeing Ye Wenxin’s troubled face, Ling Jue reassured her. “I know you don’t like owing favors to others. Just focus on your alchemy in the future. My illness still depends on you.”

Ye Wenxin nodded vigorously. Although she did not really need weapons, she accepted what Ling Jue offered. Suddenly remembering something she forgot to tell Ling Jue, she added, “Oh, I forgot to mention yesterday, the Heart-Cleansing Pill was successfully concocted.”

“Huh?” Ling Jue widened her beautiful eyes in astonishment. She had been surprised by Ye Wenxin many times before, but she never expected to be shocked like this, even though she knew Ye Wenxin was always full of surprises.

“Then… how many times did you fail, Little Sister?”

“About thirty times or so. These are the results.” Ye Wenxin took out the finished Heart-Cleansing Pills from her bag, a total of three pills.

Ling Jue could not contain her excitement. Without checking the Heart-Cleansiing Pills, she planted another kiss on Ye Wenxin’s cheek.

“Wenxin, you’re truly amazing. I can’t believe it. You managed to produce so many in just one week.” Her voice trembled with emotion, feeling that Ye Wenxin was a savior sent by the heavens to rescue her.

Before long, Ye Wenxin might become the youngest senior alchemist, with limitless prospects.

“I’ve learned a trick from my failures, it’s like solving a puzzle, or, no, it’s like something called ‘puzzle’. In fact, there is a pattern to alchemy.” Ye Wenxin was also surprised. She found that the Heart-Cleansing Pill could be gradually enhanced like puzzle-solving, following the patterns she learned from playing puzzle games before.

And heat control was the final key to the success of the Heart-Cleansing Pill.

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1. A Chinese euphemism for p***s. ↩︎
2. A Dao companion is a cultivator’s marriage/life partner, different from dual cultivation partners. ↩︎
3. A term used in Chinese internet slang to describe a melodramatic or exaggerated story filled with sensational plotlines, unrealistic characters, and excessive emotional twists. These stories often feature highly improbable events, extreme conflicts, and over-the-top reactions from characters. ↩︎